City closes Broadway Brew for 60 days starting March 27

TROY -- Broadway Brew Pub and Grille will be closed for business starting on March 27 for 60 days after a nuisance abatement hearing held on Feb. 15.

According to the decision delivered by the hearing officer, Deputy Mayor Pete Ryan, the restaurant accumulated 40 points between Nov. 19 and Jan. 15 after a series of different incidents occurred on the property. Ryan said if a business receives 12 points in six months or 18 points in a 12 month period it can be closed.

At the hearing, six police officers testified about the incidents they encountered at the restaurant, which included a stabbing, open container violations, underage drinking, packing the bar past capacity and fights.

There were a total of 11 incidents reviewed during the hearing with one incident that included the stabbing of Carlos Santiago. Officer Peter Montanino testified he was in patrol car in the Franklin Street alley with both Bootleggers and Broadway Brew in his line of vision. He said he witnessed several people leave Broadway Brew and spill out into the street where they began to fight. Once the crowd dispersed, Montanino said they found two individuals who claimed to have been assaulted. One of them was Santiago who showed the officers his stab wound.

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Co-owner Kareem Jandali testified during the hearing without any legal representation, which he said he was allowed to bring. He said he felt it went very well and there hasn't been an issue at his restaurant in three months.

"I have worked closely with the mayor and police department and complied with everything they have asked me to do," Jandali said. "This business is one of the hottest spots in Troy now. It brings a lot of revenue, people and new patrons to the city daily. Instead of thanking me, they are shutting us down. I don't understand it."

Jandali suggested something strange going on. He alleges Bootleggers, which is adjacent to Broadway Brew, has had fights occur at its establishment almost every weekend and it should have accumulated more nuisance abatement points than his restaurant.

"They must have five times more points than we have," Jandali said. "Obviously, there is something fishy going on here."

Nate Rock, co-owner of Bootleggers, declined to comment.

Jandali feels he was harassed by the police and claimed a possible lawsuit could be in the works against both the city and the Police Department.

"The city is shutting down a thriving business for no reason," Jandali said. "It's like they don't want you to succeed. Getting shutdown for two months will kill anyone's business. I have done a lot for the City of Troy. I always stick up for the politicians, the police and the city when people make fun of it and this is how they repay me."

Capt. John Cooney said with the threat of possible litigation it would be inappropriate to comment on any of the issues raised by Jandali

Ryan said he understands why some of the incidents did occur since they took place during the middle of the holiday season but said the restaurant went well over the limit of points under the nuisance abatement law that's on the books. He doesn't want the establishment to close but said he couldn't let what was happening at Broadway Brew continue.